Jeff Birney
With only 35 games left in the regular season, the Dodgers need to get numerous things to click if they hope to play baseball in October. Once again the offense failed to get hits when it mattered, and once again the bullpen dug a deeper hole in the 5-2 loss Tuesday.
L.A. was gifted the first run of the game on a bases-loaded HPB on Yasiel Puig, yet the offense failed to deliver when it mattered, going 1-8 with RISP and stranding 11: similar numbers to what they put up the night before in Monday’s loss.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed frustration in the post-game press conference.
“As you’re mired in this, it doesn’t feel good” said Roberts. “We’re having a tough time scoring runs.”
Both starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu and reliever Daniel Hudson gave up 2-run HRs, which accounted for four of the five the Cards runs. After the HPB on Puig, the Dodgers only additional run came off a crushed long ball from Manny Machado in the seventh.
The Dodgers hope to avoid the sweep tonight as they face the Cards for one more. Game time is 7:10 pm, PST.
Yet if there’s a glimmer of hope in the Dodger’s playoff prospects, it’s the remaining schedule. They are set to face numerous sub-.500 teams going into the homestretch, starting with a 3-game series at home against San Diego Friday.
